5/11/2016
Cornell Takes Checkers At Double-X
(Photo by Carol Wirts)
CALIFORNIA, Mo. – What started off as a run-of-the-mill outing for Jonathan Cornell over Mother’s Day Weekend finished out in triumph by the time Sunday night rolled around. Impressive turnouts for the ASCS National and Warrior races at Lakeside Speedway and Lucas Oil Speedway, respectively, resulted in 14th and ninth-place finishes for the seasoned Sedalia, Mo. driver. Those results came before Cornell was the class of the field at Double-X Speedway on Mom’s Day, earning his first feature victory of the 2016 season.
On Thursday night at Lakeside, a large half-mile oval in Kansas City, Kan., a strong contingent of 35 winged 360ci sprinters signed in the pit area for the “KC Klassic.” In pill draw, Cornell drew a lackluster number that’d set him up starting in the ninth and final position in heat race one. The race wouldn’t showcase much passing, but Cornell was able to nab two positions to finish in seventh. The run wouldn’t suffice to transfer to the main event, and Cornell was relegated to the B-Main, where the top six finishers would earn their way into the feature. Starting fourth, the driver of the Ostrich-powered Maxim Chassis No. 28 would keep pace with several of the nation’s top talents on the way to a fourth-place finish.
For the nightcap, scheduled for 30 laps on the high banks of Lakeside Speedway, Cornell would start near the tail in 20th. He’d quickly set out forward, achieving the 15th position by lap four, but the track conditions would soon start to turn for the worse. In the end, Cornell found himself finishing in 14th.
Up next, Cornell visited Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. for the “Open Wheel Showdown,” an event he won last season while leading every lap. This time around, the field was chocked full of National Tour talent, as that series was off and many teams stopped in to compete. In all, 38 ASCS Warrior sprint cars signed in, as opposed to just 23 at the event last season. From outside row two in the final heat race of five total, Cornell moved up to finish second behind longtime National Tour driver and 2000 series champion Wayne Johnson.
The heat race result put Cornell just outside the top-eight redraw, starting in ninth. After jockeying for position with several racers around the tenth position for the first half of the 25-lap feature race, Cornell would run in the ninth position from that point on, and take that position in the final running order.
The weekly trip east on Highway 50 from Sedalia to California, Mo. and the Double-X Speedway would round out the weekend. With heavy rains forecasted, many teams stayed at home, but the weather never came. Regardless, just 11 sprint cars showed out at the popular little quarter-mile for Mother’s Day action. Another lowly pill draw put Cornell at starting at the tail of the five-car heat two. On this night, however, Cornell masterfully navigated his home track and took the heat race lead with plenty of time to spare before eventually capturing the win.
The heads-up lineup procedure put Cornell alongside heat one winner, a usual Illinois 410ci competitor Zach Daum. Set for 25 laps, Cornell and Daum drag raced into turn one, with the Kiowa Line Builders No. 28 winning that battle. From then on, two caution flags would give Daum and then Oklahoma’s Tyler Thomas a chance to sneak by Cornell, but it was not to be. Cornell handily raced his way to the winner’s circle before giving a lucky young spectator the trophy.
Jonathan Cornell Racing would like to thank Starline Brass, Kiowa Line Builders, Yeager's Cycle, Champion Brands, Ostrich Racing Engines, Peak Sport and Spine, Sparks Electric Co., Angler’s Port Marine, CNJ Signs and Wraps, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Diversified Machine Inc, Weld Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Maxim Chassis, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Factory Kahne Midwest, Duinkerken Farms, Steve Watt Enterprises, Santomauro Racing Products, Don's Truck Towing & Truck Wash, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions LLC, Outlaw Wings, SureCoat, Xtreme Fuel Stick, and Steve and Charlie Smith, as well as all of his fans , family, and crew for their continued support.
Cornell is next scheduled to compete on May 13 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. and on May 14 at Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Mo. with the National Sprint League Show-Me 360 Region, as well as on May 14 at Double-X Speedway in California, Mo., all in the No. 28 360ci winged sprint entry.
Quick Results
May 5 – Kansas City, KS – 360ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 7th (9); Feature: 14th (20)
May 7 – Wheatland, MO – 360ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 2nd (4); Feature: 9th (9)
May 8 – California, MO – 360ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 1st (5); Feature: 1st (2)
2016 Stats
8 races, 8 features, 1 win, 3 podiums, 5 top-fives, 6 top-tens, 1 DNF
Social Media
Twitter: http://twitter.com/teamtwentyeight
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
